Amavubi of Rwanda Head Coach Torsten Spittler cut a forlorn figure after his side pulled off a shocking 2-1 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Monday night in the final round of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Completesports.com reports.
Torsten Spittler
Spittler had made his intentions clear during Sunday’s pre-match press conference, boldly stating that it was “victory or nothing” against the star-studded Super Eagles in the ‘dead rubber’ game. True to his word, the Amavubi staged a stunning comeback to defeat the Super Eagles, leaving home fans heartbroken.
However, Spittler struck a philosophical tone during the post-match press conference, expressing a mix of joy and sorrow.
Also Read: AFCON 2025Q: Rwanda End Super Eagles Unbeaten Run, Benin Qualify
“I’m happy because we came, we saw, we conquered. It’s almost seen as an impossibility for any team to beat the Super Eagles, with some of Africa’s best footballers, on their home soil,” Spittler remarked.
“Check the FIFA rankings! The Super Eagles are ranked around 30th, while we, Rwanda, are somewhere in the 160s. That’s a huge gap. Yet, we stood our ground and achieved this feat. It’s a big plus for us, and I’m proud of the players.
“But, on the other hand, I’m deeply saddened. It feels unacceptable that we could beat a team like Nigeria in such a competition and still fail to qualify for the AFCON. We came so close but remained so far away.”
Rwanda’s heartbreak was sealed by a goalless draw between Libya and Benin Republic in Benghazi, which effectively shut the door on their hopes of making it to Morocco for the tournament.
Reflecting on their earlier 1-0 defeat to Libya at home on Matchday 5, Spittler acknowledged its significance in their failed qualification bid.
“We could have won at home against Libya, and we could just as easily have lost here in Nigeria. Perhaps fate shaped things this way,” he mused.
Also Read: AFCON 2025Q: How Super Eagles Rated In Disappointing Loss To Rwanda
On Sunday, Spittler had outlined a tactical plan to stifle Nigeria’s attacking threats by deploying at least two players to mark each of their star men whenever they had the ball. This strategy worked effectively, as Rwanda’s disciplined performance kept the Super Eagles’ attack in check despite their superior quality.
Samuel Chukwueze gave Nigeria the lead early in the second half shortly after coming on as a substitute, sparking wild celebrations among the home fans. However, Rwanda responded swiftly, with Angel Mutsinzi nodding home from close range to equalise following a well-delivered free-kick.
Innocent Nshuti sealed the memorable victory 15 minutes from time, finishing off a slick move down the left flank to stun the Uyo crowd.
Despite the loss, Nigeria and Benin Republic progressed from Group D to the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco.
By Sab Osuji, in Uyo
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